Kirkland addresses new global economy at fundraiser

Steve Kirkland, left, executive director of the Blue Ridge Literacy Council, stands with his brother, Rik Kirkland, with Global Publishing at McKinsey & Company, after Rik spoke at the Bo Thomas Auditorium on the campus of Blue Ridge Community College on Friday.

Published: Friday, May 3, 2013 at 9:34 p.m.

Last Modified: Friday, May 3, 2013 at 9:34 p.m.

FLAT ROCK - Rik Kirkland watched his younger brother, Steve, come up the steps from behind the podium at the Bo Thomas Auditorium at Blue Ridge Community College on Friday morning.

The two shook hands, shared an embrace and turned toward the crowd that came to hear Rik Kirkland, keynote speaker at a fundraising event for the Blue Ridge Literacy Council, led by his brother, Steve. Rik Kirkland served as the editor for Fortune magazine for five years before becoming a partner of Global Publishing at McKinsey & Company.

Kirkland's topic zeroed in on the future of the economic world. The speech, "Three Things That Will Change Everything," outlined a new global economy that will not revert to the "good ole days," but will morph into a new world that businesses must navigate with a new approach in order to survive.

He pointed first to what he called "the crossover." This, Kirkland said, is when the emerging markets become the primary growth engine in the global economy. Emerging markets will be responsible for half the world's GDP by 2025, he said. The second factor driving change in the world is information — more specifically, how people gather information. The world is moving away from desktop access to the Internet, he said. It's a more mobile world because of the proliferation of smart phones. Facebook and other social networking sites have created a "global platform," he said.

"The entire platform has access to the same information," Kirkland said.

Throw those two things together, and you end up with a more volatile economic system — and that was Kirkland's third driving force behind the change.

"A connected world is both productive, but it creates volatility," he said.

The "world is twitchier," he told the crowd.

To be successful, businesses are must learn how to operate in this new economic world, he said. The emerging markets like China and India are going to have to learn how to sell things to one another and not just make things cheaply and ship them to America, he added.

When his presentation was over, Kirkland answered questions that ranged from the possible end to government-backed currency to the advantages that Henderson County has with location and people's desire to move here.

"I think it was a fantastic vision into the future," said Hendersonville resident Barbara Darden. Darden came out to support the Blue Ridge Literacy Council and enjoyed the event.

In the end, that's what the event was about, Steve Kirkland said.

"Knowledge is power, and literacy is the fuel for that," Kirkland said.

"I think it was an extraordinary presentation on the world, but also linked the needs for literacy," he added.

For more information about the Blue Ridge Literacy Council, visit www.litcouncil.org.

<p>FLAT ROCK - Rik Kirkland watched his younger brother, Steve, come up the steps from behind the podium at the Bo Thomas Auditorium at Blue Ridge Community College on Friday morning. </p><p>The two shook hands, shared an embrace and turned toward the crowd that came to hear Rik Kirkland, keynote speaker at a fundraising event for the Blue Ridge Literacy Council, led by his brother, Steve. Rik Kirkland served as the editor for Fortune magazine for five years before becoming a partner of Global Publishing at McKinsey & Company.</p><p>Kirkland's topic zeroed in on the future of the economic world. The speech, "Three Things That Will Change Everything," outlined a new global economy that will not revert to the "good ole days," but will morph into a new world that businesses must navigate with a new approach in order to survive. </p><p>He pointed first to what he called "the crossover." This, Kirkland said, is when the emerging markets become the primary growth engine in the global economy. Emerging markets will be responsible for half the world's GDP by 2025, he said. The second factor driving change in the world is information — more specifically, how people gather information. The world is moving away from desktop access to the Internet, he said. It's a more mobile world because of the proliferation of smart phones. Facebook and other social networking sites have created a "global platform," he said. </p><p>"The entire platform has access to the same information," Kirkland said. </p><p>Throw those two things together, and you end up with a more volatile economic system — and that was Kirkland's third driving force behind the change. </p><p>"A connected world is both productive, but it creates volatility," he said. </p><p>The "world is twitchier," he told the crowd. </p><p>To be successful, businesses are must learn how to operate in this new economic world, he said. The emerging markets like China and India are going to have to learn how to sell things to one another and not just make things cheaply and ship them to America, he added. </p><p>When his presentation was over, Kirkland answered questions that ranged from the possible end to government-backed currency to the advantages that Henderson County has with location and people's desire to move here. </p><p>"I think it was a fantastic vision into the future," said Hendersonville resident Barbara Darden. Darden came out to support the Blue Ridge Literacy Council and enjoyed the event.</p><p>In the end, that's what the event was about, Steve Kirkland said. </p><p>"Knowledge is power, and literacy is the fuel for that," Kirkland said.</p><p>"I think it was an extraordinary presentation on the world, but also linked the needs for literacy," he added.</p><p>For more information about the Blue Ridge Literacy Council, visit www.litcouncil.org.</p><p>Reach Millwood at 828-694-7881 or at joey.millwood@blueridgenow.com.</p>